La Major League Baseball (MLB) and the Major League Baseball Players Association reached an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement on Thursday. In this way, the way was cleared for the regular season to finally start on April 7.
After three months of conflict, an agreement was reached in which a season of 162 games will be played and the four series that had been removed for each club will be rescheduled.
Commissioner Rob Manfred said at a news conference that he’s excited about baseball’s return: “I have to say I’m really excited to be able to say that Major League Baseball is back and we’re going to play 162 games. I want to start by apologizing to our fans. I know the last few months have been difficult.
The text still needs to be signed by both parties.
final agreement
The new agreement will run for five years and includes increases in the minimum salary, a new pre-arbitration bonus fund to reward the best young players, an increase in competitive balance tax thresholds, the introduction of the universal designated hitter , a new draft lottery system (the most comprehensive in sports), a system to prevent alleged instances of service time manipulation, and limits on the number of times a player can be sent to the minors in a season.
Plus an expanded postseason format with 12 teams, bringing October baseball to two additional markets each year.
The mandatory date for players to report to training is Sunday. Preseason games will begin on March 17 or 18.
The pact also proposes that for the first time the uniforms and helmets used by the players have advertising.
Players and owners agreed to discuss the international draw for players. They put July 25 as a tentative date to develop the variants that they consider prudent on this point.
Let the fun begin! pic.twitter.com/c7KQKSj618
— MLB (@MLB) March 11, 2022
